Greg Athans, Jean-Luc Brassard, Dave Pym, and Mélanie Turgeon have been selected for induction into the Canadian Ski Hall of Fame.
Greg Athans (To be inducted posthumously) one of Canada’s earliest pioneers in Freestyle skiing had an outstanding number of victories in competition between his debut year in 1976, and his retirement in 1982. In 1976, he astonished the freestyle skiing world by winning the mogul, ballet and combined titles on the Professional Freestyle Alliance circuit. In 1978, he repeated this effort by winning both moguls and ballet titles and, again, in 1980 winning the moguls title and the coveted World Cup Grand Prix Award for the Best All-Around Competitor.
Jean-Luc Brassard, of Montreal, QC won an unprecedented number of World Cup medals in Freestyle skiing, including a gold medal in the moguls event, at the 1994 Lillehammer Olympics. The four-time Olympian also won 2 gold medals in the 1993 and 1997 World Championships. Jean-Luc continues to be involved in sport, as a television commentator, a representative of the Canadian Freestyle Ski Association and as a mentor to young athletes, particularly in Quebec.
Dave Pym, of Vancouver BC, has spent the better part of his 40 year involvement in ski racing as a volunteer at all levels, from local clubs to the Olympic Winter Games. He has worked tirelessly to support the education of officials, homologation of Canadian race courses, and advancing the Canadian position within Fédération Internationale de Ski (FIS) and other international alpine skiing organizations. He became Managing Director of the Canadian SnowSports Association in 2002.
Mélanie Turgeon, of Laval, QC, dominated the 1994 Junior World Championships winning medals in all five alpine events (Giant Slalom, Super G, Slalom, Downhill, Combined) including two golds. A member of the Canadian Alpine Ski Team from 1992 to 2005, she was Canadian National Champion in four alpine events (Giant Slalom, Super G, Slalom, Downhill), and had eight World Cup podium finishes. In 2003 Mélanie won the downhill at the FIS World Ski Championships and was named Alpine Canada’s Female Athlete of the Year.
The Canadian Ski Hall of Fame, part of the Canadian Ski Museum, honours persons who have made distinguished and substantial contributions to the growth and development of the sport of snow skiing and snowboarding in Canada. The four new inductees will join 144 other competitors, officials, coaches, trainers, instructors, and builders of the ski sport and industry who have been so honoured.
The Canadian Ski Museum will formally induct the new members at a Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Banquet on Thursday, 17 April 2008, at the Chateau Cartier in Gatineau, Quebec.
